Danby creates new energy committee
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By SANDI SWITZER Herald Correspondent - Published: October 12, 2009
DANBY — Finding solutions to local energy issues will be the focus of a newly-appointed committee comprised of town residents.
The Danby Select Board recently approved the formation of an energy committee to study local issues and recommend and oversee solutions.
Mark Carlin and Annette Smith will spearhead the committee, recruit members and regularly report to the Select Board on the status of its projects.
Carlin and Smith told board members a number of Rutland County communities had formed energy committees that had taken on large and small tasks, ranging from swapping light bulbs for more efficient units to home weatherization efforts.
Several towns had sponsored workshops as a way to get home and business owners thinking of ways to conserve energy with the approach of winter, Carlin said.
Carlin and Smith attended an energy summit in September hosted by NeighborWorks of Western Vermont, Rutland Regional Planning Commission and others that brought together state, regional, local nonprofit and energy officials. The group set a goal of reducing energy consumption in 10 percent of Rutland County's buildings by 10 percent by the end of 2010.
Carlin said although he had no specific agenda for Danby, he would be willing to attend energy meetings, recruit new members and "keep my ear to the ground" in finding ways to address local concerns.
Nonprofit organizations have some funding available for homeowners in need of financial assistance to make weatherization improvements in their homes, he said.
"I think there's some funds the common people and the town can tap into," Carlin said.
In a related matter, neighboring Wallingford agreed this week to form its own energy committee.
Zim Chila, who also attended the September energy summit, agreed to lead the Wallingford committee. He informed the town's Select Board of the summit's 10 percent goal.
"It's probably a little ambitious, but it's possible," he said.
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